Criminal mischief-makers hit Holmes Beach

by Lisa Neff. Islander Reporter

The Holmes Beach Police Department recorded eight incidents of criminal mischief late Feb. 29 and early March 1 in the downtown area.

In the parking lot of the Island Shopping Center in the 5300 block of Marina Drive, HBPD early March 1 observed a silver Volkswagen with a slashed, flat tire. The parking lot was crowded the night before with attendees of a Bootleg band concert at D.Coy Ducks.

HBPD also found a red Hummer in the parking lot with a flat tire, the result of a puncture.

In that instance, authorities discovered a handprint on the left front fender “that appeared to have been left as someone leaned against the vehicle to slit the tire,” according to an incident report. An officer collected three fingerprints from the vehicle for investigation.

Tires on a Mercedes and Chevrolet Suburban were slashed near the Pure Station in the same parking lot that night. The tire on the Mercedes had been stabbed about four times, creating small punctures, HBPD reported.

HBPD also reported four criminal mischief incidents in the vicinity of the Driftwood Motel, 5108 Gulf Drive, early March 1. The right rear tires of four vehicles - a Pontiac Vibe, two Jeeps and a Chrysler van - were slashed “with a sharp object, possibly a knife,” according to incident reports.

The tires were apparently slashed sometime between 11 p.m. Feb. 29 and 6 a.m. March 1, according to the owners of the vehicles and the manager of the Driftwood Motel.

No arrests have been made in connection with the incidents.

Damage to each vehicle was estimated at about $150 to $250, which would make each act of criminal mischief either a second-degree or third-degree misdemeanor. Punishment for such crimes can be 60 days to a year in jail.

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